Fast Facts

• Euthanasia is the direct killing of a person, usually by injecting a lethal substance.
  
  
• Euthanasia is prohibited in all 50 states under homicide laws.
  
  
• Assisted suicide involves one person providing the means and instructions to help another person commit suicide.
  
  
• Most states have laws which prohibit assisted suicide. The only state where assisted suicide is legal is Oregon.
  
  
• Over 89 legislative bills in 22 states have been introduced attempting to legalize assisted suicide. To date, all efforts have been defeated.
  
  
• Attempts to legalize assisted suicide with ballot measures have been defeated in four states.
  
  
• Euthanasia is legal in the Netherlands with or without the consent of the patient.
  Guidelines have been adopted to allow the killing of newborns with disabilities.
  
  
• People from all over the world travel to Switzerland to be assisted with suicide.
  
  
• Illegal drugs from Mexico are taken to Australia and New Zealand to be used for suicide. People are taught how to make their own suicide pills.
  
  
• Allowing people who are not dying to die of starvation and dehydration by withholding or withdrawing food and fluids is legal in all 50 states.